Pitching

Batting

The Cal State Northridge Matadors (1-1) dropped a 2-0 decision to the Sacramento State Hornets (1-1) on Saturday afternoon at John Smith Field. The Hornets scored a run in the first inning on two Northridge errors that proved to be the game winner.

Sacramento State got the scoring started in the bottom of the first after back-to-back errors with one out kept the inning alive. Trevor Paine lined out to center field to score Kyle Moses from third base. The run was scored as unearned against the Matadors' Vincent Roberts (0-1), who threw two innings in the loss.

Northridge's best offensive chance came in the fourth inning as the Matadors loaded the bases with one out but were unable to score following an inning-ending double play. Simis opened the frame with a single and Todd Eskelin and Miles Williams drew walks but Northridge could not capitalize.

Eskelin finished 2-for-2 at the plate with a pair of singles and a walk. Simis, Kyle Attl and pinch hitter Travis Beck also recorded hits for Northridge. Beck's single in the ninth inning was his first career hit and came in his first collegiate at-bat.

The Hornets scored the only other run of the game in the bottom of the eighth after mounting a two-out rally when Andrew Ayers singled with a runner on first and third to score Will Soto.

Freshman left-handed pitcher Jerry Keel threw six innings of relief for the Matadors and allowed just one run on nine hits while recording four strikeouts. Keel was able to work out of jams in three innings and stranded a total of nine Sacramento State runners on base.

Tanner Mendonca went wire-to-wire for the Hornets, recording the shutout after allowing five hits and two walks while striking out two.

The Matadors return to action on Sunday, Feb. 19 with the final game of the series at Sacramento State. First pitch is scheduled for 1 p.m. with Jacob Petersen (CSUN) battling Zach Morgan (Sacramento State) on the mound.